5 Tips to Help Stay Hydrated

Drink a lot. Water, pasteurized 100% fruit juices, milk, and low-sodium broth are good choices for staying hydrated. If you're also trying to lose weight, keep in mind that juices have a lot of sugar and calories. You may want to drink water or seltzer instead. Experts say that drinking 64-96 ounces of water a day will keep you hydrated. That's about 8-12 8 ounce glasses of water.

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Drink caffeine in moderation. Drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, colas, and some root beers, will increase your water intake. But caffeine acts as a diuretic, so it flushes water out of your system more than other drinks without caffeine. Don't rely on caffeinated beverages as your only source of liquid.

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Eat foods with high water content. Liquid in your food counts toward your daily total. Some fruits and vegetables are more than 90% water. Melons, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, sweet peppers, spinach, zucchini, and tomatoes are all at least 90% water. Low-sodium soups, popsicles, and gelatins are also high in water.

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Add some citrus to your water. If you don't like drinking plain water, try adding lime, lemon, or orange slices to your water. You can also pour in a splash of fruit juice.

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Keep a glass of water close to you during the day and night to remind you to drink it.